There are a number of committees and work groups made up of members that assist our Federation in its work.

Committees

2SLGBTQIA+ Committee

The 2SLGBTQIA+ committee provides a forum to inform, discuss, and advise the Federation on issues relevant to 2SLGBTQIA+ members. This includes organizing efforts to dismantle barriers, promote representation, and develop resources for the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Addressing Anti-Black Racism/Racism Committee

This committee provides a forum to inform, discuss, and advise the Federation on issues relevant to Black and racialized members. This includes organizing efforts to dismantle anti-Black racism and racism while addressing material and societal inequities that disproportionally affect Black and racialized communities.

Comité des services en langue française

This committee advises our Federation on matters relating to the special needs of Francophone members and members who speak French as part of their role within OSSTF/FEESO and to French education.

Communications and Political Action Committee

This committee supports OSSTF/FEESO Districts and Bargaining Units by offering guidance, training, and resources related to communication and political action. It helps improve internal and external communication strategies, promotes member engagement in public education advocacy, and facilitates lobbying efforts across various political and community groups. The committee also oversees the annual awards recognizing excellence in communication and activism.

Educational Services Committee

The role of the Educational Services Committee (ESC) is to identify and monitor current educational issues, professional, curricular, resource, training, and educational priorities that impact members, and assist in the development of the Educational Services conference and regionals.

Health and Safety/Workplace Safety Insurance Act Committee

The Health and Safety/Workplace Safety Insurance Act Committee is an active body that strives to ensure safe workplaces for all members. The committee encourages, promotes, and educates members on healthy and safe working conditions. HS/WSIAC provides training for members at annual regionals and the bi-annual conference.

Finance Committee

The finance committee prepares the budget for presentation to the Provincial Assembly in accordance with the Regulations and also advise the Provincial Assembly, the Provincial Council, and the Provincial Executive on all OSSTF/FEESO financial matters. Lastly, they are tasked with annually reviewing the purposes and practices concerning the General Account including District funding, the Member Protection Account, and the Contingency Account, as well as any other accounts that may be created from time to time, and to report its findings each January to the Provincial Executive.

Human Rights Committee

This committee advises our Federation on human rights matters within our union and assists in upholding the objectives of our Federation to ensure equity and inclusiveness in the workplace. The HRC is a forum to advise on human rights issues relevant to members.

Protective Services Committee

The Protective Services Committee provides training on matters related to contract maintenance, member protection, and negotiations to local leaders annually through regional meetings and a conference. PSC is responsible for developing the Federation’s negotiations priorities and objectives along with model language for negotiations. The PSC is also charged with reporting on matters of education finance, CPI, and funding.

Status of Women Committee

This committee monitors the professional status of women members of our Federation and advises our leadership on the need for appropriate action with respect to any developing trends and provides a forum for the discussion of issues relevant to women in OSSTF/FEESO.

Councils

Active Retired Members Council

The ARM Council represents Active Retired Members to foster the development of a strong, united, active body of retired members, to provide a forum for furthering the goals and welfare of retired members and to assist OSSTF/FEESO with its objectives, particularly in the area of political action and election readiness.

Benevolent Council

The Benevolent Council meets at the call of the Chairperson, a minimum of six times per year, to provide grants to active Members who apply and demonstrate extreme financial need due to prolonged illness, accident, or emergency. Benevolent Council may also recommend other ways and means to assist members in distress.

Judicial Council

Judicial Council is a body that has the ability to consider a limited range of complaints about alleged violations of specific OSSTF/FEESO regulations as per Regulation 6 of the OSSTF/FEESO Constitution and Regulations by active Members.

Parliamentary and Constitution Council

This council reviews District and Bargaining Unit constitutions on a five-year cycle and provides advice and assistance to Districts(s) and Bargaining Units on matters related to their constitutions, regulations and policies. They also recommend to the President, members to act as a Steering Committee at the meetings of the Provincial Assembly and Provincial Council. In addition, they provide advice to the Presiding Officers of the Provincial Assembly and the Provincial Council on matters of parliamentary procedures, the ordering of an agenda, and the sequencing of resolutions and procedures followed, as well as the possible effect of resolutions on procedures and/or on other resolutions.

Advisory Work Groups

Equity Advisory Work Group

This work group consists of members representing the diversity of OSSTF/FEESO’s membership and advises our Federation on any matters related to inclusion and equity within our Federation and any other matters referred to it by the Provincial Executive.

Environmental Advisory Work Group

The role of the Environmental Advisory Work Group (EAWG) is to advise the Provincial Executive on any matters related to environmental issues within the Federation and any other matters that may be referred to it by the Provincial Executive.

Faculty of Education Advisory Work Group

This work group consists of one member from each Teacher Bargaining Unit in the same location (nearest city) as the Faculty of Education. These members liaise with the Teacher Education Liaison Committee at their specific Faculty of Education, with their bargaining unit, with each other and, through staff, with the Ontario Teachers’ Federation, to advise our Federation on any matters related to Teacher Education in Ontario and any other matters referred to it by the Provincial Executive.

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Advisory Work Group

This work group consists of members who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit and advises our Federation on any matters affecting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit members and education policy, and any other matters referred to the group by the Provincial Executive.

New Member Engagement Advisory Work Group

The NMEAWG advises the Provincial Executive on matters related to new member engagement, such as resources, workshops, outreach, and information, as well as any other matters referred to it by the Provincial Executive.

Persons Living with Disability(ies) Advisory Work Group

The Persons Living with Disability(ies) Advisory Work Group is an advisory body to the Provincial Executive that advises on matters related to issues affecting persons living with disability(ies) in the Federation, including ways to improve equity, accessibility, and accountability. The Persons Living with Disability(ies) Advisory Work Group is also to advise the Provincial Executive on how to best accomplish the goals identified in the OSSTF/FEESO Strategic Action Plan and to provide advice on any such matter as may be referred to it from time to time by the Provincial Executive.